Chicken coop



m. 14 v w 1,511,787

J. A. THOMPSON CHICKEN COOP Filed May 23, 1925 heels-Sheet l 7 INVENTOR WITNESSfJ ATTORNEY Um, 114 u mm magma? J. A. THOMPSON CHICKEN COOP Filed May 23 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Z Jk nmvENToR WITNESSJ ATTORNEY Patented @ct. l rl, iaaa CHICKEN COOP.

Application fi1ed May 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Estelline, in the county of Hamlin and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chicken Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a chicken coop, the general object of the invention being to provide means whereby the fowls can be made to open the door of the coop in the morning so as to render it unnecessary for the poultry keeper to open it.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of t as several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a coop showing my invention inuse.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through part of a chicken coop equipped with my invention. Figure 4c is a view in elevation of the slidable door, part of the invention associated therewith and part of the door frame being broken away. Figure 5 is a perspective of the feed pan and trip embodied in the invention. Figure 6 is a perspective of the guide used in conjunction with the invention.

In these views 1 indicates the coop and 2 indicates the door which is slidably mounted in the guideways 3. A weight 4 is connected with the door by means of a cable 5, which passes over the pulleys 6, so that the door is normally held open by the weight. A spring pressed bolt 6 is located in a part of the door frame and is adapted to engage a notch 7 in the door to hold the same in lowered position, the spring being so arranged that it will hold. the bolt in retracted position so that it will not interfere with the raising of the door. The bolt is held in projected position, however,

fierial No. 640,983.

against the action of its spring by means of the trigger 8 which ishinged to the frame, at 9, and which is guided by means of a slotted upright 10. A feed pan 11 is carried by the outer end of the trip 8 which is adapted to be supplied with a quantity of chicken feed. The trip 8 is arranged in horizontal position where its forward end will overlie the spring urged bolt 6 which engages this trip with suiiicient force as to hold the same with the pan in a true horizontal position against movement. However, upon an attempt of the chickens to eat the feed contained in the pan, the beaks of the latter will strike the pan with suiiicient force as to rock the trip upon its pivot and disengage it from the spring pressed bolt 6 and thereby permitting the same to be projected away from the door 2. The weight 4t then causes the door to ascend.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a chicken coop, a door, means for normally holding the door in open position, a latch for holding the door in closed position, a trigger for holding the latch in latching position and feed holding means on the trigger adapted to be moved downwardly upon being engaged by a chickens beak in an attempt to eat the feed to release the latch.

2. In a coop, a sliding door therefor, a. weight connected with the door for holding the same in open position, a bolt for holding the door in closed position, a spring holding the bolt in retracted position, a trigger pivoted to the door frame and engaging the bolt, a guide for the trigger, a feed pan on the trigger adapted to be moved downwardly by the force of the chickens beak striking the same in an attempt to eat feed contained in the pan to release the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. THOMPSON.

for, 

